ISLAMABAD: The Royal Danish Embassy in collaboration with the global industry leader, Ramboll A/S Denmark, organised a series of seminars and business meetings in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad this week to highlight potential solutions for the energy sector in Pakistan.
While speaking at the seminar in Islamabad, Ambassador Ole Thonke of the Royal Danish Embassy said, “The government of Denmark, through private sector engagement, was facilitating support to Pakistan not only for energy production but also for policy reforms, safety enhancements and load and grid management. Danish and Pakistani companies can forge partnerships in variety of sectors to benefit from each other’s competences.”
Pakistan has a vibrant population of around 190 million, and it is expected to be the fourth largest population of world by 2025. The demand for energy was significantly higher than the production in Pakistan and the country was currently facing an energy crisis, with an estimated 7.5 giga watt shortage. He said that it was estimated that the country loses up to three percent of its GDP per annum because of power shortages.
The government of Pakistan aims to end the energy crisis and load shedding by 2018, with their five-year energy plan and government of Denmark is actively supporting the Pakistani government to achieve that goal, he said. While addressing the participants of the seminar, Assar Qureshi, Commercial Counsellor at the Royal Danish Embassy, said, “Denmark is eager to further strengthen and enhance bilateral trade relations with Pakistan, as the current level of bilateral trade, though steadily increasing, has much more potential to grow”.
He appreciated the visit of the Ramboll delegation together with their local partners E?lan, led by Muhammad Ziauddin. It will help in developing and diversifying the energy sector in Pakistan, he said.
Mogens Skov, Ramboll’s Global Division director said, “With many decades of experience with planning, design and implementation of sustainable, efficient, and reliable energy solutions worldwide, Ramboll was in a great position to present a full spectrum of technologies and comprehensive solutions for the Pakistani market, particularly in the energy sector.”
The Embassy of Denmark has planned further delegations to Pakistan in the areas of water technology and agribusiness.
